Castle Shima

Some days, I just dont feel like slaying dragons. -- sign outside my cube at work

Tower View
A Window View
Last night I found myself actually having a political discussion in one of my usual chat hang outs. Normally, this is the kind of discussion I avoid while in the online chat rooms because I'm a very opinionated person and chat is supposed to be for fun.

Opinions can get heated and some people dont agree to disagree. My own opinions begin to become rants and then chat is no longer fun.

This time it was different. This time it was with people I've known for years and I know that are politically active.

Someone had mentioned that they were going to vote for John Kerry and I said I would send them a sympathy card for being sick. Then some how we had started talking about the upcoming election and I simply can not vote for Kerry.

The man doesnt want his Vietnam record nor how he got his medals to become an issue, but then there are TV ads sponsored by Kerry, promoting his Vietnam record. Sounds like he opened the door on that one.

When Bush fell off his bicycle on the ranch, Kerry made the comment "The training wheels must have come off." Excuse me, didnt Kerry have a similar crash last month? I guess the training wheels came off then as well.

And why in the world are we getting news that these guys fell off their bicycles in the first place? Dont we have better things to do with our time?!

Whoops.. I'm doing it again.

See what I mean? My opinions begin to become rants...

Then there was the topic of Michael Moore and Fahrenheight 9/11 where I really went crazy.

Now I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We are supposed to disagree about things, but ever since Bowling For Columbine came out, I've been an anti-Moore person.

A friend told me that anyone from the National Rifle Association would be against the film. Its a good thing I didnt join the NRA.

I'm in the belief in personal responsibility. Why didnt the parents of Harris and Klebold know what they were doing? Since when did it become the government's responsibility to know what *your* children are doing?

So if we are blaming guns for this, then we need to blame the automobile maker for all the drunk drivers on the road. Bicycle makers needs to be blamed for all the people that get injured from their machines.

After all, a president and a presidential candidate were recently injured on these things.

Lets face it; hindsight is always 20/20. Its too easy to place the blame on people, especially during an election year. People like Moore make it their living.

In Bowling For Columbine, he used various speeches out of context and compiled them together to create an image. There were no sources given for statistics sited nor any kind of bibliography listed. The damn thing did not even meet the criteria for an Oscar!

Right or wrong, how can this be truly trusted? I for one... ummm...

Ack! See?! I'm doing it again...! Geez...

I will have to admit that it was fun to have a somewhat serious conversation. Its just that we have to remember that if you cant agree with someone, then agree to disagree. I was fortunate to be with people who could do that without any hurt feelings.

Now if I can only convince them that they are wrong... bwahahaha!
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Out In The Yard
Elk steals bicycle. Rocky and Bullwinkle unavailable for comment.
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Video games used in PE classes now. So if Dance Dance Revolution is used for Phys Ed, will Grand Theft Auto be used for Driver's Ed?
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Things look bad in 'The Day After' . It appears that this the movie is just really really bad. Good thing Return of the King comes out tomorrow.
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Background Noise
Evenflow by Pearl Jam

Even flow...
Thoughts arrive like butterflies...
Oh, he don't know
so he chases them away...
Someday yet he'll begin his life again

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

Victims. Arent we all? -- Eric Draven from The Crow

Tower View
Its Saves Gas Too
Last week was the official Bike To Work Week sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists throughout the country.

I figured I would give this a try because I'm seriously behind on my mileage goal. The distance to the office is only 7 miles so having an additional 14 miles a day would help in my training, but this involves crossing at least 3 major, very busy roads and my town isnt reknowned for being kind to cyclists.

As if my previous rants about the topics didnt give an indication to this, but it wasnt that long ago where a woman was killed while riding her bicycle across an apartment entryway. A truck leaving the complex not only hit her, but dragged her body out on the road where she was hit again by other vehicles.

Although getting up at 5:45a to avoid the maddening traffic is not my forte, I gave this a try just to say I did it.

When people at the office found out that I rode into work, they were in shock. Not because I rode to work, but because I was actually awake before to 8am.

Geez, now I guess I'm going to have to start doing this more often.
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Out In The Yard
Cyclist beats motorist in a race to commute to work. This plus the raising gas prices makes the purchase of that SUV even better, doesnt it?
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More 20 to 30 year olds are staying at home. So what happens when the parents get the cable turned off?
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Man arrested for covering motel room in vaseline. Why couldnt he use tissues like the rest of us?!
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Golden retriever wins National Hero Dog award for killing poisonous snake. Riki Tiki Tavi outraged for the loss of employment.
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New Zealand's age of consent is lowered to 12 years old. Mississippi residents have begun making plans for immigration.
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The Family Farm For Fetish Folks. The producers of The Simple Life are taking notes.
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Background Noise
As can be determined by the quote, the movie The Crow is on.

I always liked this movie. Its too bad this was Brandon Lee's last film. He would have been a great star like his father, Bruce Lee.

Another favorite quote from the movie: Is that gasoline I smell?

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

Hey Jay! Whats for lunch? More of that Tender Vittles curry with Jasmine rice? -- Robbie discussing Jay's lunch.

Tower View
Would You Like Fries With That?
Remember, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

I was in the company snack shop when I ran into Jodie, a young lady from another department that I've known for several years, but hadnt seen her in quite some time.

After the usual greetings, I asked the question "Now is the second one or is it still the first?" Jodie gave the slight confused look and replied "Pardon?"

Pointing to her stomach, I said "The child. Is this the first one still? Its been so long since I've seen you that I cant keep up..."

Suddenly I could feel the back of my head catch on fire.

"Ken, I had the baby six months ago.." Jodie said, that stern look on her face burning thru me.

Argh!! I dont think I could not apologize profusely enough. So dont mind me. I'll be in the corner gnawing on my foot...
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Out In The Yard
Here is the Meyers Brig test Star Trek style. I have to admit that tts a pretty good personality test considering my score is close to the way I am. Thanks to iPalimpsest for the link.
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Older men and women are playing video games now. Are you kidding? They've been playing games for years... Just anyone who is married. Heh...
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Man guilty of shooting at moving cars as target practice. It usually helps to be in another car so that they cant catch you.
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Background Noise
These Are The Days by 10,000 Maniacs

These are the days
You'll remember...
Never before and never since,
I promise,
Will the whole world be warm as this...

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

I'm not a monk. I'm a friar. So I can swear if I want. Damn it. -- Karl from Von Helsing

Tower View
Finally! Its About Time!
I'm glad that John Moody's editorial stating its time to stop apologizing came out. For the Iraqi conflict, the US has apologized way too much.

The prison pictures were bad, dont get me wrong. These were the actions not becoming of soldiers. But compared to the four bodies burned and charred hanging from a bridge, this is nothing.

At no point was an Iraqi prisoner video taped for the world to see or killed. They were hazed, humiliated, and basic brunt of childish games. At no point was their life threatened. Death is abit more permanent.

Get over it, people. There are more important things to worry about.

For example, taking out the bad guys who dont want Iraq to become a soverign state, then getting our troops back home.
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So Starts The Grand Tours
The Giro D' Italia (Tour of Italy) has started. This is the first of the three major bicycle races, with the Tour de France and the Vuelta de Espana to follow this summer.

Its well known that Lance Armstrong made his name in the Tour de France, but for those of us that following sport, the Giro is about the sprinters Alessandro Petacchi, Bradley McGee, Robbie McKewn, Erik Zabel, and of course, Mario Cipollini.

Then there is the pair from the Saeco team, Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego. Simoni, who won the Giro for the second time last year, is now under scrutiny as team leader with the up and comer, Cunego. As each day goes by, Cunego is looking better than Simoni, so of course the media has to create a conflict between them.

Only time will tell if he really has the mettle to take over the team.

And the Giro goes on.
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Along Those Lines
I am highly disappointed in the Outdoor Life Network. For something as large as the Giro, they are only covering the race in the morning as they normally do, but then there are only repeats during lunch or the early afternoon. There are no repeats during prime time or even late evening.

OLN has gotten better and started covering other major bicycling events like the Sea Otter Classic, The Tour of Georgia, and Paris-Roubiux, but it appears that the network is placing with all the emphasis (and money) on Lance and possibly his sixth Tour de France victory.

They did the same thing last year during the Vuelta de Espana so looks like I'm going to have to live with that disappointment.

Either that or remember to set the VCR.
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Out In The Yard
Speaking of cycling, check out Bill Hobb's Open Road blog. Its a bicycling blog for the bicycling fan.
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Yard Guards: They Are There To Do the Doody. Here is another group that takes a lot of crap.
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Struct's Defiant T-Shirts. Its true. Anorexic chicks dont swallow.
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Background Noise
Housequake by Prince

Shut up, already!
Damn!
Housequake!
If you cant rock steady,
Then shut up already...

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

I wouldnt mind being wet. -- Rachel Ray from Thirty Minute Meals

Tower View
The New Couple
Congratulations to Son and Li for their wedding this past weekend. Stay safe and enjoy things, you crazy kids. Dont wake the neighbors. Heh...
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For Those Adventurous Types
If you are feeling up to the challenge, The World Naked Bike Ride is being set up for June 12.

This world wide event as a way to "protest oil dependency and celebrate the power and individuality of our bodies." I just figured it was a way some people got to hang out naked.

Although I am against the rising oil prices, its seriously doubtful that I would participate in such an event. There are just some bodies not meant to be
seen naked. Mine is one of those.

If you are interested in such a thing though, you can find the US link for the organization here.

For myself, I'll stick to the Bike To Work Week: May 17th - May 21st.
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For Those Other Adventurers
City Of Heroes is a massive multiplayer role playing game (MMRPG) where you get to create and act out as a superhero. Its a little slow at first, but definately a treat for comic book fans as well as role playing gamers.
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Out In The Yard
BMW owners get more tail. Hell, I could have told you that.
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Man with cocaine in car yells at police entourage. And he wonders why they arrested him.
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Police are looking for a sheep carrying criminal. Ao? Where is Ao?!
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Wife serves husband poop pie. She got tired of his crap.
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Husband burns down home to spite wife. "This is for that pie, woman!"
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Background Noise
Get The Funk Out by Extreme

If you dont like
What you see here,
Get the funk out...
We wont try to
Force feed you...
Get the funk out...

We all have those days that we just want to say that...

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************